Class 10 Englsh Chapter - Two Stories About Flying

 

 Class 10 English

Class 10 English syllabus. Class 10 English NCERT Book

First Flight

Chapter 1 - A letter to God

Chapter 2 -  Long Walk to Freedom

Chapter -  "Two Stories About Flying" is actually divided into two parts:

1. His First Flight – by Liam O’Flaherty

2. Black Aeroplane – by Frederick Forsyth

Here’s a concise summary of both:

Part I – His First Flight (Liam O’Flaherty)

This story is about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. While his brothers and sister have learned to fly, he hesitates out of fear of falling. His parents encourage him, but he refuses to try. One day, his mother uses a trick—she flies close to him with a piece of fish, tempting him to move towards it. Hunger overcomes his fear, and as he jumps towards the food, he starts flapping his wings and finally experiences the joy of flying. The story conveys the message that self-confidence grows when we overcome fear and take the first step.

Two Stories About Flying

Part II – Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth)

This story is narrated by a pilot flying from Paris to England at night. Though his fuel is low and the weather is turning stormy, he hopes to reach home for breakfast. Suddenly, he sees a mysterious black aeroplane whose pilot gestures for him to follow. Through thick clouds and low visibility, the narrator follows this plane until it guides him safely to an airstrip. However, when he lands and asks the control tower about the other pilot, they tell him no such plane was detected on radar. The mystery remains unsolved—was it a real plane or some kind of miraculous help? The story highlights hope, courage, and the mysterious ways help can appear in times of need.

Exercise of “Two Stories About Flying” .

Part I – His First Flight

(By Liam O’Flaherty)

Thinking About the Text

1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
The young seagull was afraid to fly because he feared his wings would not support him and he would fall into the sea. Many young birds feel nervous during their first flight, just as human babies are hesitant when taking their first steps. In both cases, encouragement and practice help overcome fear.

2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
It means his hunger grew so strong that it overcame his fear. His mother tempted him by holding a piece of fish just out of reach, and when he jumped towards it, instinct made him flap his wings and he started flying.

3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
They wanted him to join them in the air and learn to fly. Their calls and actions were to motivate and push him into overcoming his fear.

4. Have you had a similar experience where your parents encouraged you to do something you were too scared to try?
Yes. I was once afraid to ride a bicycle without training wheels. My parents encouraged me and stayed close. Even though I fell a few times, I eventually learned to ride on my own.

5. In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act. In your example, was your success guaranteed? Was it important to try?
No, my success was not guaranteed. But trying was important because it helped me gain confidence and independence, even if I could have failed.

Part II – The Black Aeroplane

(By Frederick Forsyth)

Thinking About the Text

1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
The risk was flying into the storm clouds with low fuel and without certainty of a safe landing. He took it because he wanted to reach home in time for breakfast and was determined to go forward.

2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew into the storm.
Inside the storm, visibility dropped to almost zero, and the instruments stopped working. The narrator felt lost and helpless until a mysterious black aeroplane appeared and guided him out of the storm to safety.

3. Why does the narrator say he was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota?
Because after such a frightening flight where the old Dakota failed to guide him, he was relieved to be safely on the ground and away from danger.

4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
She was surprised because he asked about another pilot, but there was no record of any other aeroplane flying that night.

5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely?
It could have been a supernatural force, a guardian angel, or a figment of his imagination under stress. The story leaves it a mystery.

Vocabulary & Phrasing

Q1 – Meanings of “black”

1. “…your hands and face are absolutely black.” → dirty or covered with soot/dust.

2. “The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look…” → angry expression.

3. “The bombardment of Hiroshima…” → wicked/evil act.

4. “Harold Pinter’s black comedy…” → dark, grim humour.

5. “…sell these in black.” → illegally/black market.

6. “…beaten the criminal black and blue.” → badly bruised.
   
   

Q2 – Match phrases

1. Fly a flag → Display a flag
2. Fly into rage → Suddenly become angry
3. Fly along → Move quickly
4. Fly high → Be successful
5. Fly the coop → Escape
   
   

Q3 – Words similar to “fly”

1. flutter
2. hover
3. glide
4. soar
5. skim
6. swoop
   
   

Worksheet – Two Stories About Flying

(Class 10 – First Flight)

Part I – His First Flight (Liam O’Flaherty)

Summary:
A young seagull is too afraid to fly, unlike his siblings. His parents try to encourage him, but he refuses. Hunger finally drives him to leap towards food his mother holds. As he jumps, he instinctively flaps his wings and discovers the joy of flying.

Key Points:

1. Theme: Overcoming fear, courage, self-confidence.
2. Main character: Young seagull.
3. Turning point: Hunger forces him to attempt flight.
4. Ending: He flies confidently with family.

Part II – The Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth)

Summary:
A pilot is flying home to England at night. Despite bad weather and low fuel, he flies into a storm. Lost and with dead instruments, he sees a mysterious black aeroplane whose pilot signals him to follow. The mysterious plane leads him to safety, but the control tower says no such plane existed.

Key Points:

1. Theme: Courage, mystery, help in adversity.
2. Narrator: Pilot of Dakota DS-088.
3. Climax: Guided out of storm by mysterious plane.
4. Ending: Mystery remains unsolved.

Section A – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
a) He had an injured wing
b) He thought he would fall
c) His parents didn’t teach him
d) He was lazy
(Answer: b)

2. Who finally tempted the young seagull to fly?
a) His father
b) His mother
c) His brother
d) A fisherman
(Answer: b)

3. In “The Black Aeroplane,” what problem did the narrator face in the storm?
a) Engine failure
b) No visibility and dead instruments
c) No fuel from the start
d) Both a and b
(Answer: b)

4. What was the narrator’s Dakota’s registration number?
a) DS-088
b) DA-888
c) DO-800
d) DS-880
(Answer: a)

Section B – Short Answer Questions

1. What steps did the seagull’s parents take to make him fly?

2. How did hunger play a role in the young seagull’s first flight?

3. Why did the narrator decide to take the risk of flying into the storm?

4. What happened when the narrator tried to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane?

Section C – Vocabulary

1. Match the phrase to its meaning:

Phrase	Meaning
Fly high	a) Escape from a place
Fly the coop	b) Be successful
Fly into rage	c) Become suddenly very angry
Fly along	d) Move quickly

2. Find the meaning of “black” in these contexts:
a) “Black look” – ___________
b) “Black market” – ___________
c) “Beaten black and blue” – ___________

Section D – Creative Writing

1. Imagine you are the young seagull after your first flight. Write a diary entry describing your feelings. (80–100 words)

2. Write a short paragraph describing what you think the mysterious black aeroplane really was.

Section E – Extra Thinking Question

Both stories deal with fear. How is fear overcome differently in each story? Write 3–4 sentences comparing them.